Former GNT workers protest (again)
A copy of the forensic report on the
R300m in pension funds that went missing over five years ago, has been handed over to a non-government organisation (NGO) advocating for affected former Great North Transport (GNT) employees.
Last Tuesday afternoon, the Make It Happen Foundation’s Harry Masindi shared with Polokwane Observer a text message that alerted him about the approval for release of the document said to have been sent by Office of the Premier for his collection or delivery.
This was a few hours after the NGO, with the consent of the affected former employees, announced a plan to yet again, convene a night vigil for several days from last Wednesday along Schoeman Street in the CBD outside of Provincial Treasury and government head offices, in demand for the report and ultimately, their money.
Polokwane Observer previously reported that these victims were left counting their losses after GNT, their former employer and a subsidiary of the Economic Development, failed to pay over their contributions to the administrators of the fund, or made short payments for 17 years even though monthly deductions were made from their salaries.
Last Thursday, a day after Masindi had collected the document, he said he had skimmed through it and that they would consider a way forward.
In the report,
Limpopo
Treasury conditionally approved in December 2019 that insurance giant Alexander Forbes be compensated over R2m to render “services for the investigation of handling of pension funds/provident fund” within GNT for three months, subject to specifications and regulations set out in the contract.
In Polokwane Observer’s request for comment, Treasury spokesperson Phumudzo Mamphiswana referred us to the Office of the Premier’s Ndavhe Ramakuela, who redirected the paper to GNT spokesperson, Leo Gama, who remarked that it is a matter between Provincial Treasury and the former employees.
In early March, as was done last year and before that, the group consisting of loved ones of the deceased and retired employees of the bus service, staged a similar demonstration. They were, however, requested by Provincial Government to return home, with the promise on April 24 that the media would be informed in a briefing subsequent to consultations about the release of the report among the affected parties. The conference has not yet been scheduled.